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My apologies for the down time. I missed my payment so my website was down for a little while but we're back up and running now so all should be well again.
Current Animations
Animating In Toon Boom Harmony 12: What It's Been Like
Having used Toon Boom Studio (version 7) and Toon Boom Animate Pro 2 and 3 (although I used the educational version of Pro 2 and owned a copy of 3. It took me that long to save up for it), by the time I got to try out Harmony I was use to using Toon Boom software. Thus the learning curve wasn't so steep.
When I first started animating I used Pencil which is still freeware but it crashed so frequently and corrupted my work it was just to upsetting. I discontinued using it. I tried PAP (plastic animation paper). It was great for learning the basics but I needed a way to go all digital. Something that was a whole package. Later years I moved on to animating in GIMP. That was very tedious and tiresome. Eventually I settled down with Photoshop for a while but if you've ever tried to animate more than 5 seconds long you will know the frustration I experienced. It took me a long time to save up for a copy of photoshop. With all the effort and frustration I gave up animation and moved onto webcomics.
I couldn't animate traditionally because I simply couldn't afford the tools, storage and all that paper. I really needed an all digital answer. Unfortunately I didn't know about Toon Boom. My first all digital animation program was Anime Studio. At first I liked it. It was more the excitement of seeing my work come to life and move but the style didn't suit me. It was all bone and vector animation only and I was more of a frame by frame animator. The learning curve to do what I wanted was steep but after all the effort I was unsatisfied and frustrated. I promptly quit not long after.
Fast forward a few years to Adobe Cloud CC Subscriptions. Through enthusiastic suggestion, I rented Flash CS6. I wish I never wasted my money and had of put it towards Toon Boom. But I still didn't know about Toon Boom Studio at this point. Using flash for the type and style of animation I wanted to do was the most painful animating experience of my life. The lag, the crashing, the corrupted files, the file export issues, compatibility issues, lacking features and tools. The list goes on and on. I use to envy those animators that could do incredible things with Flash but it was not for me.
My first experience with Toon Boom Studio which I stumbled on after reading a blog about "alternatives to flash". I ditched flash after using the trial for 3days. I then subscribed to the Toon Boom newsletter and waited for it to go on sale.
At first TB Studio was hard to use. My biggest problem was after using adobe products for so long, I had gotten use to expecting things to be harder. So once I settled down and watched a few youtube tutorials I came to appreciate how easy TB Studio was to use. A lot of the tools and features are very WYSIWYG. The hardest thing for me to wrap my head around was drawing in vector with no antialias. I was strictly a bitmap animator for a very long time. It was through TB Studio that I learned vector properly. In the past I had always found it a very technical and difficult art form. Now I love it and appreciate it. But I still prefer to animate in bitmap from time to time.
I think I used Toon Boom Studio 7 for at least years before deciding I had outgrown it and needed to move on to something more advanced. It was quite some time before I had enough money to cross-upgrade. Once again I waited for it to be on sale and with help from my family I did it.
The transition and learning curve to me felt steep because of the nodes. I found the network view and nodes to be very difficult. For the longest time I didn't understand them but I flourished with the new set of tools and advanced features. I also really enjoyed the new texture brushes to animate with than what I had been using. I was very satisfied animating and learning to animate in Toon Boom Animate Pro 3.
Eventually I got good enough to make a few small animated gifts for close friends. Yes gifts not gifs. It was a wonderful feeling to see how happy they were seeing their characters come to life like that. But I feel, with all those years of struggling with buggy programs or freeware was wasted time I could have spent in Toon Boom. I remember at one point I had even tried TAB. It was not for me.
One of the biggest reasons I loved using Toon Boom Animate Pro was the choice of frame by frame animation, being able to use symbols, the library, 2.5D, 3D view, bones or cut out animation. I wasn't restricted to just use the one way of animating like so many other programs seem to do. It seems you always have to use just the one method instead of being able to do it all. I know that Toon Boom Studio right up to Animate Pro even has the ability to produce good quality stop motion animation. Taking all of this into consideration, I highly recommend Toon Boom Products to anyone looking to get into 2D animation.
As I progressed with Animate Pro, I really fell in love with the fact that they have kept an xsheet as a part of the animation process. In earlier years I had a one year sub for a program called RETAS Studio for a group project that fell through the cracks like so many indie animations before, and I had learned xsheets in the early stages of learning to animate traditionally, and at first, I really couldn't animate without one. I had gotten so use to using them for timing. But enough time in Animate Pro and I rarely use them any more. I think now I only go back to make minor adjustments.
Taking all of this into consideration, with my past experiences with various animation programs, including TVPaint (Which I've only ever been able to use for learning and unfortunately could not afford a commercial license even though I would love to own it as well. I happen to think it pairs up well with toon boom.), I think knowing this might help you understand why I enjoy and like Harmony 12 so much. Also for anyone that's used any of these products you might understand some of the points I will make or have briefly touched upon.
Using Toon Boom Harmony 12 has been a dream to work with. The little things that use to annoy me in Animate Pro are long gone. The main one was certain automatic blank frame inserts while you tried to work on keyframes in the timeline. It use to get frustrating but it was a quirk that was easy to put up with and deal with. I'm glad that's been changed.
As strange as it sounds, there's been less lag than Animate Pro 3. I genuinely thought since there's more tools and it really is a much bigger program that it would run slower but it's quite the opposite. It starts up faster and hardly lags at all for the type of animation I create. I was extremely thrilled and impressed by this.
I was also very impressed by the bone tools and the curve deformer. The only thing that surprised me was the Unity bone export. Making a 2D platformer has always been a priorty and dream of mine but one of the biggest set backs was lack of animation skill and tools. I didn't have the right set of tools to practise with which is no longer the case. The fact that you can export your rigged animations to Unity is just incredible. I just hope one day I can also learn how to code and create a specific game idea I have had in my head for what feels like forever but that's for another time.
After playing around in Harmony 12 I found the nodes easier to use. The main reason being the tiny little description you get when you hover your mouse over the node input and output. I use to put my nodes in the wrong way around frequently but this is no longer the issue.
Another thing I found priceless was a book by Adam Phillips:Animate to Harmony: The Independent Animator's Guide to Toon Boom
This is by far the best book I have bought in years. It gets even more points for not being boring and written with personality. This book helped me in Animate Pro 3 and Harmony more than all of the youtube videos and both manuals combined. And believe me I've read and watched a lot. Combining this book with the online user manual, definitely made my experience a much more positive one.
After I wrapped my head around all of these new features and the benefits of the new brushes and choice of vector or bitmap layers I ended up falling head over heals in love with Harmony 12. So much so that I saved up for a cross-upgrade. It's worth every dollar.
So far I've been doing frame by frame with and without antialias turned on while I work as I experiment with my workflow. I've been enjoying the increased speed and since Toon Boom Studio I've always appreciated how rarely these programs crash! When you're working on large files, particularly in animation the last thing you need is for constant crashing which often leads to eventually corrupting your main save file. I haven't had this happen and I'm running the minimum required specs. For the rare times it happened to me in Animate Pro I've always been grateful for the autosave that happens in the background which I am happy to say works even better and smoother in Harmony.
For me personally, because I draw fairly fast with a lot of swift movements, lag has always been an issue for me in any drawing program. I don't have the money to keep a constant supply of inks, pens and paper so I rely heavily on doing my work digitally. The main reason being that digital is a one time payment and storage is far easier 😉 Lately while comparing, I have found that the only time Harmony really ever lags for me is if I am making or using particles. However I expect this to be less of an issue when I upgrade my system to run it more efficiently.
Another thing I have come to heavily appreciate is how much compositing you can do in Harmony. It really eliminates the need for other compositing and editing software such as After Effects. As it is now, I am experimenting with ways of achieving some of the effects I use to create in After Effects CC in Harmony. This is quite a bonus for me personally since AE is quite the resource hog and takes an awfully long time to render and export something as simple as a 30 second animation could take an hour to export in comparison to Harmony's few minutes or less.
The only things I would like to see in harmony but could easily live without would be a smudge and blur tool. However in saying that you can use the mesh deformer to achieve smudge like effects and nodes for blur but there are times where you just want certain areas blurred slightly like you would with the blur tool in photoshop.
In the past I use to really want or missed using an Airbrush when I used Animate Pro. There was no airbrush. If you wanted that look you had to use the nodes and Gaussian Blur. But it was quite an adventure to try and get that right and preview it in the render view mode. In Animate Pro 3, despite having 8GB ram and a great graphics card, it took forever to render. In Harmony 12 it seems to be lightening fast. I use to hate using nodes because of how much it would slow Animate Pro 3 down or how slow it would be to preview it. I'd preview, then adjust and then wait while it froze to re-render the preview. This is no longer an issue for me in Harmony. I am finding I can have a very complex node setup and adjust them while I leave the preview full render on and it almost never freezes. I say almost because it does freeze a bit if I am trying to preview selected frames with particles. But if I'm not working with particles which most of the time I'm not, it doesn't freeze up. And I am certainly someone that heavily abuses the blur node.
That pretty much sums up my experience thus far. Harmony is very powerful yet it's not a drag on my system. And compared to Flash, there is no comparison. It's far superior in everyway. Thus far, it's been a very smooth and fast paced creative experience. I no longer feel burdened by my lack of tools and options.
Would I recommend Harmony? Yes, absolutely. Would I still recommend Flash? No. No, no, no, no, no a thousand times no.
But I do encourage you to use whatever works best for you and what you're most comfortable with. Personally I would love to one day own TVPaint and use it alongside Harmony and enjoy the best of both worlds but that is a long way away. And who knows what the future holds now that I have Harmony under my belt. As I grow with it I may end up changing my mind but I know my happiness will continue to grow as I slowly make personal goals and dreams come to life.
I really enjoyed the Toon Boom products I have used over the years. It's been mostly a very pleasant experience and I expect the next several years to become even more amazing as my skills grow.
If you read all of this and might be thinking about getting Harmony, I highly recommend using the trial first. The main reason is to check the compatibility. Best not to go diving in head first and buying it if you can't run it or don't even like the software.
Although I must warn you to activate it when you have the time to actually use it because it's likely that you will use up that 30days all while trying to cram in as many tutorials as possible. Depending on how familiar you are with digital art will really influence how steep the learning curve is for you with this particular software.
If at all you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. I also apologise for the captcha but I have an incredibly bad spam problem this site.
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I'm going to keep this very short. There was a cyclone and a gum tree fell on my house. Everyone and our pets are fine. There was asbestos. We have nothing. I'm with family. Whenever I finally move I'll likely be working hard to replace pretty much a lifetime of furniture. So this blog might go a little stale and not be updated but it will not be forgotten.
Cleaning and Home Tips
This will be bullet points of things I have learned or been taught.
- Use epsom salts to clean your washing machine. Do it once a month.I am allergic to a lot of products and I have found itching and irritation from using commercial cleaners whereas epsom salts are harmless and good to soak in when you're in the tub, so it makes sense to use it as a cleaner (funnily enough I find it good to soak in epsom salts and my tub comes out a little cleaner each time and leaves my skin soft).
First, empty your lint filter and clean it thoroughly. I set my machine to full and put in about 1 cup to 1 1/2 in a cool wash cycle on regular. Ideally you should do this on warm or hot but it kills our electricity bill. I don't really notice much of a decline in cleaning quality when I use cold but if you haven't done it in a long time you'll want to use hot water to help get rid of the soap scum and build up in both your machine and it's pipes and if you've NEVER done it, do it on hot and add a cup of bicarb baking soda powder.I only do this once ever 2 to 3 months because I feel that's what works best for me and also because I use almost all liquid.
If you use powder washing, then you should do it once a month. You can also use the left over water for your garden if you are only using epsom salts. I don't recommend using it on your yard if you have added bicarb.If you need an extra kick to cleaning out your washing machine without buying commercial cleaners, adding a half to a full cup of bicarb baking soda can really do the trick or even a half a cup of rock salt.
It's cheap and effective. If you are someone that really needs scents in your cleaner use a few small drops of peppermint oil (pure) or essential oils with disinfecting qualities. You could also use a bit of tea trea oil. This will also disinfect your machine as well as make it smell nice.
- Clean your washing machine once a month by using Epsom salts. I've found this far more effective than commercial cleaners and it's also safer.
- NEVER mix cloudy ammonia with bleach (this includes domestos). It's toxic and if you plan to mix chemicals, it doesn't hurt to do a quick google research about it.
- Some of you might find this handy, others might say "well duuuuh". This will be in bullet points. This is stuff my mother use to make me do and things I do because of allergies while some of it is just common sense.
- Things you can do with Bicarb or Carpet freshener. Use either as a carpet freshener. Freshen and deodorize pet beds by sprinkling it on the area, allow to sit for a few minutes and then dust off or vacuum. Deodorize your car by sprinkling it on the upholstery and floors and letting it sit for 10-20 minutes and then vacuuming it off later.Add to the ashtray if you are a non smoker for a long lasting smell absorber.
Leave it open and it will last a long time as an air freshener for your car. Also give it a stir or shake once in a while. Use either in the bin. Yes the bin. Sprinkle it on the bottom of your bin to deodorize all day and night long BEFORE you place in a new bag. It can also absorb bin moisture keeping it smell free longer and easier to clean. Can last for 2 to 3 days in the bottom of a bin, but I recommend cleaning your bin after each unbagging with with Earth or Pine O Clean wipes.Sprinkle either one on the bottom of cat tray litter before adding litter. Find a small container and put in some of it, leave the lid off and place strategically around the home as either an air freshener or smell absorber.
Put bicarb only in a small container, say about 1/4 cup of bicarb baking soda powder and place in the bottom shelf or top shelf way up the back to absorb smells and keep your fridge smelling fresh or not smelling at all. I have found this to last anywhere up to 1-3 months. Give it a stir once in a while.
- Use denture pills to clean stained coffee cups or coffee pots. Works wonders if you get the whitening one. Also works on pots and pans. I find this to work better than bicarb in some circumstances.
- Boil then let simmer, bicarb in a pot or pan with food that is stuck or brown burnt to the bottom. Things like rice, semolina or polenta that are just messy and hard to clean sometimes. It will loosen it and make it easier to clean.
- Use bicarb as a no smell, all natural abrasion free scrub. Mix into a paste and use with a sponge. Clean bench tops, sinks, toilet and bathroom, microwaves and ovens with this mix.
- Clean bench tops daily to keep ants away. If they still persist even if your kitchen is spotless, find where they are entering and get a cotton wool pad. Add a few drops of peppermint oil and wipe around and near the entry point. It will repell them. Do it daily and they will stop coming in.This is a no kill solution. I've also found that having a small container of compost outside is the best way to keep ants out of the home.
In my house it can be spotless but when they persist in entering the home, they are foraging because there's a large storm on the way and sure enough a few hours later or the next day there's a lightening storm. These two things have been great at keeping them out of my house. I never could kill ants.
- Boil some water and pour down the sink as evenly as possible to melt any fats or oils in your drain. Pour around and in sink drain, 1 cup of bicarb soda and use white vinegar. Pour about a cup or more of vinegar until it foams up and out of the drain. This is an all natural and effective drain cleaner. Let sit for a few minutes and then rinse. It's good to do this every 1-3 months. Keeps your drains smell free as well.
Some people have written that this works well in the toilet but I find when vinegar is diluted with water, it doesn't make the bicarb fizz and makes it less effective. You can try but you might waste a lot of vinegar getting it to work right.
- Use polish with beeswax to best preserve and clean wooden furniture. My mother used it on vinyl lounges as well and their life I swear was extended. I have a table and chair set over 15 yrs old and it still looks new and fresh. The chairs are leather or vinyl and the table wood. If you have none, Armor All can be a good substitute.
- Nifty can be as powerful as using domestos but is not as harsh. When using it, to get the best results allow to soak/sit for 10-20 minutes. Does a good job on removing mould. Use in a well ventilated area and be aware that it can and will bleach clothes. Though not as strong it can still whiten things you don't want white.
- Using static wipes to dust can be excellent if you're as allergic to dust as I am but try to never use it near the computer or laptops.
- Pre spray your dusting cloth with furniture polish to help stop disturbing dust and making it fly into the air and aggravate your allergies. It will of course still disturb it but it will be far less and amount.
- Open your windows and curtains daily! Various build up of toxins from household cleaners can make you sick and opening a window or two can really help keep your home fresh. Plus sunlight has a lot of benefits in the home. Unless you're totally all green and eco friendly (very hard to do), things like deodorant, toilet sprays, cleaners, all release various chemicals that can affect your health and even with air vents it can still linger in the home and make you sick.
Allow natural sunlight and fresh air into your home is a must. I also recommend having houseplants. Plants naturally absorb carbon dioxide and other dangerous chemicals and then the plants release fresh oxygen. I also really highly recommend why and the benefits of having houseplants is a must.
- Sunlight soap. Sunlight soap is your friend. Although it's not the best smelling product it's extremely gentle on the skin and does a lot around the home. Read the packet for suggestions. Does a great job at cleaning dishes, excellent in the garden. My nana use to mix it in a spray bottle of water and spray her roses with it to keep bugs at bay.I use to great it and make it into an all purpose spray.
If you have stainless steel sinks, get a wet sponge, lather it up in sunlight soap and go crazy. It's super foamy which is a good thing. Use the scrub side of a non abrasive scotch brite sponge. Rinse thoroughly and you will have shining sinks. It's gentle and shines. Does a great job on clothing stains. I use to use it to get out grass stains.
- Use bicarb as a fabric softener.
- Use a mixture of bicarb and epsom salts in a tub of warm water to soak your feet in. Particularly good if you have an ingrown toenail or sore redness around the toes. Only add peppermint oil (pure) or pure eucalyptus oil, a few drops, if you want a nice smell. The reason I say this is because you only want something with antibacterial and antiseptic properties.
- Homemade antibacterial fabric softener or garment freshener. Works both ways. Add 1/3 cup or fill the bottle about a quarter or 1/3 into a 1litre spray bottle. Fill with warm water and add a few drops of lemon essential oil or pure peppermint oil. I recomment anything from 3 to 10 drops. Give it a shake, make sure it's well dissolved and use as a softener or freshener.
- Use steam when ironing to kill dust mites.
- Iron bedsheets and pillow cases to 1. Kill dustmites and germs 2. Save an incredible amount of space and better maintain your linen press.
- Place a small open jar of used sun dried tea leaves in humid linen press to absorb moisture. This is a cheap solution to commercial packaged dehumidifier packets you buy in store.
- Wash curtains and blinds! Horrified at how many people I know with asthma or allergies sick everyday and have not washed their curtains or dusted their blinds in years. If you keep it clean you can run a steam cleaner over them once a week for a quick top up clean.
- Use white vinegar if you have no descaler for your percolator/coffee machine. Run through twice, rinse thoroughly and run through just water at least twice to rid the vinegar.
- Using cream cleanser on your bathtub and bathroom sink at least once a week or once a fortnight will keep it clean and white longer. Usually it works better than the "no scrub" cleaners which are usually harsh on the lungs. To get the best results, put the pug in the tub to save what rolls down the tub walls.
Squirt some cream cleanser around the tub and rub in with a sponge or scrubbing brush. Allow to sit for 20 minutes. Lightly wet and scrub on last time. It will lather up a lot. If you had a lot of soap scum and grime you can let it sit for another 10-20 minutes then rinse. I can get away with once a fortnight. Ajax cream cleanser works best.
- Using bleach on porcelain tubs and toilets will erode the enamel and make it porous. A lot of "no scrubbing no wipe" cleaners can also do the same damage. Even though they say good for tubs, quite often they are not and are really meant for showers and tiles. Once it becomes porous it becomes harder to keep clean.
- For an easy microwave clean you need a Pyrex jug or microwave safe container. Preferably something that can handle boiling water. Add 3-4 tablespoons of bicarb to one cup of water. Stirring is optional. I like to stir. Place it in the microwave. Turn on microwave for 2-3 minutes. Let sit for a few minutes to allow the steam to do it's job. Use a damn cloth or sponge and wipe clean. Sponge works best. You can use the leftover mix to clean your bench tops when it's cooled down.
I was surprised at how effective this was. I HATE cleaning the microwave. No one (including myself) uses microwave lids or protectors so it gets EVERYWHERE and you all know how hard that food much can stick the the walls of your microwave. I kid you not I tried this and it was a very easy wipe and clean. The only part that needed a bit of elbow grease was the roof part with a few stubborn parts.
I just re-cooked it for 1-2 minutes and let sit. It was easier to remove the second time around.I also changed over to the non abrasive scrubbing side of my scotch brite sponge. It took me maybe 10 minutes to clean. Usually it takes longer because I tend to put off cleaning the microwave because of how difficult it can be. I also love this method for safety reasons.
I don't like to use chemicals on things I cook with. I always worry I haven't rinsed it off enough and I might make us all sick or poisoned.On the back of the box it gives similar instructions to do this with the oven. I haven't tried this on my oven but I plan to. If it worked this good in the microwave with the burned chunks and grease, I have high hopes for my oven.
- Use baking paper instead of greasing pans can not only be healthier but make cleaning up a lot less messy and easier.
- Mixing about a tablespoon of cloudy ammonia in a foaming bottle with 3 tablespoons of cheap dish washing liquid (I recommend homebrand lemon) a few drops of eucalyptus solution (not oil, it makes it go funny) or peppermint oil with tea tree oil or solution, makes for a great carpet cleaner and good for cleaning drains.
Also works well on cleaning white goods. I use this often to clean my washing machine lid and sides. My cats love to sit on it and make it dirty so it's a daily item for me. I find it can smell nice if you use a little less ammonia. The oils or solutions are to deter bugs such as fleas and also for smell. The dish liquid just isn't enough when ammonia is added.This mix is also super effective on hard stains on the floor. Eg hardened dropped food that might have been left by family members. Squirt some foam on the area, allow to sit for 5minutes then wipe. If that didn't work, reapply and let sit for longer. Keep pets and children away until it's cleaned.
- Buying a sizable tub, big enough to soak 2-4 queen bed sheets is often a very cost effective investment when it comes to hand washing and soaking larger items. It often ends up being a much gentler option when you need to use hot water but at the same time you are trying to save electricity.Our hot water system is a joke and we've had it replaced 3 maybe 4 times in one year. I'm glad I bought such a tub.
I can soak a decent amount of clothes for however long in stove boiled water without making my bills higher and still getting a good clean. After it's cooled I tend to handwash all I can and then put it through a cool rinse cycle.Things like curtains I like to soak in boiled water. It takes 200 degrees celsius to kill dust mites and I am hyper sensitive to those. I soak it in an anti dustmite solution by Bostistos or Sard soaker. I'm paranoid when it comes to dust because I'm so allergic it. I like to add pure eucalyptus oil to my sard soaking items to make sure to kill dust mites and other germs as well as use it for the wonderful smell. It makes my whole house smell lovely.
- Eucalyptus oil or methylated spirits can remove left over sticky tape glue from tables and walls.
- Methylated spirits, besides cleaning glass streak free can also remove permanent marker from walls and tables.
- Stings from stinging nettle can be removed and relieved by rubbing methylated spirits to the area.
- If you're feeling lazy with any item you don't want to wash after cooking, even though you know it will go hard, fill to the top with water and leave it. That way when you wake it will be moist and an easy wipe off. Adding a squirt of dish liquid doesn't hurt either 😉 Save yourself the pain of scrubbing and just fill it to the top until you're ready to tackle it in the morning.Highly recommend doing this after using the rice cooker or slow cooker. It really saves on a burdensome clean later.
Surprisingly this is all I can think of for now. I'm sure I will add to this list another time. One last note, I have come to find pinterest an amazing source for homemade cleaning tips and remedies. Some of their recipes are great while others… not so great or safe. If you plan to make homemade cleaners, PLEASE remember to research what you're mixing and if it's safe to do so!
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Animation Recommendation
This is my personal recommendation. I just want to mention that this is my personal opinion from my own experiences as well as me answering questions I get.
As a hobbyist animator I have tried almost every single animation program out there. I've always wanted to do classic frame by frame animation but doing it traditionally can be very expensive and I switched to digital animation. Besides being eco friendly you only have to pay for your tools once. I love the advantages of digital animation.
The only program I haven't tried was CelAction simply because it didn't have anything I needed and it was far too expensive for a hobbyist like myself.
If you are into classic animation like me and do frame by frame animation I highly recommend theses 6 programs. I will however be giving honorable mentions of other programs that you can animate with or use to prepare to create great animations. (I only use the first 4, specifically I only own ToonBoom Animate Pro and studio. I can't afford TVPaint but I hope to one day.)
- Sketchbook Pro 7
- ToonBoom Studio, Animate, Animate Pro, Harmony (any of these suites are great for animation but I highly recommend Animate or higher)
- CACANi
- Adobe After Effects
- TVPaint
- Celtx
Sketchbook Pro has always been an excellent program for doing concept work but with the added feature of flipbook, it can make creating keyframes very enjoyable. It loads and runs fast and has very basic animation. One of the more notable features is the perspective rulers, this is particularly useful when creating background art for animation since most animation programs do not offer perspective rulers and you have to draw them manually. Taking advantage of these rulers can really help you excel in creating high quality animation and various graphics. This is excellent if you're new and can help ease you into 2D frame by frame animation. You can then export and import into ToonBoom to take it further and create amazing things. Sketchbook Pro is also excellent for doing storyboarding and various concept work as well making it a very important tool during the early stages of design and creating model references.
ToonBoom has a wide range of software specifically for animation but each suite is aimed at specific types of animation but it can do it all. I recommend any of the Toon Boom products from Studio to Harmony. They are all capable of symbol animation, morph/tween, cut out, bone/puppet animation, stop motion and frame by frame. I also like the onion skin options and settings. I've found it to be very efficient. However I do recommend that you check the specs and use a trial before committing. There are still some compatibility issues. The only other con I can think of is the learning curve. Some say it is intuitive to learn while others don't. I did not find it very intuitive but I did find it fairly easy to navigate through the tools. It was difficult at first to remember where everything was but fortunately ToonBoom allows you to fully customize your workspace. I would also like to add that unless you have Harmony you can only create vector art. If you want bitmap or raster based painted backgrounds or assets you have to import them. Fortunately ToonBoom offers an excellent library that you can customize and save your items for reuse later.
CACANi is excellent for a lot of reasons. The main one being that it can automate inbetweens and it's stroke steadying settings. If you have shaky hands or an over sensitive tablet you will find this extremely useful. It's not flawless with auto inbetweening and you still have to inbetween complex animation but it can be a great time saver and still produces quality animation. It basically does advanced vector morphing. It's also all vector based. Some that are use to raster animation may not enjoy it and find it a disadvantage, but it is worth learning and using. Once you get use to vector animation you can really take full advantage of it and create some incredible things. Particularly if you're a professional with limited time to get things finished. You can draw in it frame by frame by hand as well and you may find you only need Cacani and Sketchbook Pro for most of your work. CACANi is especially good for a more classic cel animation with cel shading. Anyone that has used ToonBoom or flash and tried to animate cel shading will know the difficulties it can involve. With it's unique colour line separation pen and quickflip preview ,it makes the flow of animating cel animation much easier smoother and get it done in a much shorter amount of time.
Adobe After effects is a compositing program. I recommend it for filters and basic particles. It's extremely useful to use the particles to make snow or falling feathers, leaves blowing in the wind or anything else you can think of. It's especially good for glowing and various lighting or shading effects. I recommend it mostly because subscribing is cheaper than trying to buy Harmony. If you have ToonBoom Harmony, it's unlikely that you would need After Effects. After Effects is also capable of puppet animation and does a really good job of it. In short it's like photoshop for animation. I highly recommend it for it's filters to edit your animations and push them further in design, effects and quality.
TVPaint has a lot of tools. If you have it, it's unlikely that you will need any other program. It is mostly raster based. Recently it was upgraded with a lot of amazing new tools. If you are into puppet or bone animation I don't recommend TVPaint. It's mostly a frame by frame animation program. It has advanced and customizable lightbox options that make inbetweening and onion skin easy to use. With TVPaint you can do storyboarding as well which is a big pro including adding audio to your storyboards. The only Con is unless you have a Cintiq or dual monitors, it can get very cramped very quickly. It is professional grade software and has a fairly steep learning curve. However if you have some experience in animation with other programs you might find it fairly intuitive. I highly recommend trying the demo. Unlike other programs there is no time limit to test the software. You can't save and it uses a watermark. Unlike ToonBoom animate family where you have to import raster images from photoshop for backgrounds, you can paint within TVPaint lessening the need for any other program.
Celtx is not animation software but it is a necessary program to have and use. It's replaced word and OneNote for me. Celtx has online cloud storage and offers a range of writing formats from script writing to storyboards for film and comics. It's most unique feature is the character database. You can create and story a database for all of your characters with indepth information plot ties and image reference. It's freeware and well worth downloading and using. If you decide to get into serious animation I highly recommend using it and taking advantage of the character database to use alongside your script and storyboards. I personally use to use this for my comics in combination with Sketchbook Pro and it certainly has been a great help in the past.
Honorable Mentions:
[List has been updated 17/03/2015]
Other programs that can be either used for animation or are extremely helpful during the animation process and concepting stages are listed below:
- OneNote (Organising, scripting, concepts, storyboarding, mindmaps (very important), ability to share with team members)
- Plastic Animation Paper also known as PAP
- Clip Studio Paint Pro and EX (Perspective rulers, paint, raster drawing, background, concept, storyboards and assets with transparency)
- GIMP (animation and concept)
- Photoshop (animation and concept, transparent image assets)
- MyPaint (unlimited canvas, fast loading, variety of natural feeling brushes)
- ArtRage (Beautiful backgrounds, program imitates natural media very well. Personally I think it does it better than Corel)
- Corel Painter (animation and concept, natural media feel)
- Paint Tool Sai (for raster images, backgrounds, concepts, storyboards and ease of use)
- OpenCanvas (perspective rulers, painting, concept, storyboarding)
- Audacity (for audio recording)
- FL Studio (Unless you're a composer I only recommend basic FL for creating your own sound effects and music. It is professional grade software and has a very steep learning curve. However it is well worth learning.)
- Pencil (Free frame by frame animation. Still buggy and has been known to crash. Save frequently)
- Blender (now has frame by frame animation. Done with grease pencil)
- Tab (various suits, mostly all vector and I think cut out animation)
- Digicel Flipbook (a lot of people still use and recommend this program. I personally did not take to it)
- Anime Studio (vector bone morph animation)
- Retas Studio (I don't think it's sold outside of Japan in english any more but I have seen some artists purchase it so I'm not totally sure.)
- GraphicsGale (gif animation)
- Synfig (free, mostly vector. Very steep learning curve, lots of issues for windows. Best used on Linux)
- Tupi
- Toufee
- Toonz (same company that makes Tab, but to my understanding this one is more advanced)
- CelAction
- Flash (animation, symbols, tweening, frame by frame)
If you feel I have forgotten any 2D programs you think should be mentioned please leave a comment. This was very quickly written.


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Alexander Siddig Interview: He reveals anger over changes to Bashir
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July 18 2013, 05:34 AM
Queen Arachnia
Location: Captain Kathryn
Re: Alexander Siddig Interview: He reveals anger over changes to Bashi
Dream wrote:
SPOILERS for the entire show
Alexander Siddig: But it arrived, I didn't know about it on Tuesday, and on Thursday the script arrived – we started shooting on Friday. I was so shocked. You know you get the impression that maybe the producers sit down and talk about strategies and character arcs with actors but this thing came out of the blue and pissed me off so royally. It was a reaction to the fact that the character was genuinely unpopular in the early days. Because he was not fancy; I mean this is a time where 90210 was at the top of the charts in American TV and this guy was so not the hunk, he was the anti-hunk. He was the -
Jordan Hoffman: He was a man of science! That's what he was!
Alexander Siddig: He was a man of science; he was like half good looking, rubbish at pulling girls. I mean it was all the wrong kind of archetypes. And so they kept trying to do things to make it happen. Eventually they did the Bond thing (reference to Our Man Bashir) – they did the Bond thing before that actually. And that kicked it off. I have to say that I'm still pretty angry. Well, not angry . . .
Jordan Hoffman: You have a craft, and you fill out a back-story of the character and you work at it for three years, four years and one day they walk in and say "guess what, you have this secret you've been keeping from everybody".
Alexander Siddig: Exactly. And everything you've done could have been completely different had I known.
Jordan Hoffman: So did you go to the producers and voice your displeasure or just roll with it?
Alexander Siddig: I did it the only way that an actor can. I completely destroyed the lines that they gave me regarding the situation. Every time something came up that was to do with being kind of Data-esque - I mean, I couldn't get away from the fact – I thought I was being a Data, which is what they wanted to do, they wanted to switch the characters from all the shows, which they ended up doing with Voyager -
Jordan Hoffman: Which may have been a problem for that show. . .
Alexander Siddig: Well, it was a bit cynical at the end of the day. But I just fluffed the lines; well I didn't fluff them completely I literally pinned the lines on the back of someone's shoulder once, reading them. I wasn't bothered even to learn them. I just pinned them around the office as if they were lines needed for daily modification. And they got the message and dropped it kind of.
Wow, talk about an interesting interview. I agree with Siddig that the new information about Bishar's background came out of nowhere. I'm still uncertain if it turned out to be a good thing or not. It was certainly lazy of the writers, a random plot pulled out of nowhere that VOY writers might come up with. I had the same problem with Sisko finding out that he was half Prophet near the end of the series, which was even worst.
I am really glad Siddig resisted the writer's attempts to turn him into a Data clone. The last character they created to ripoff another was Pulaski, and we all know how THAT turned out.
How did you feel about Bashir's genetically-engineered storyline?
I agree with him. The producers just pulled that out of nowhere without any forewarning or consulting him. That is a terrible thing to do to an actor.
I've mentioned several times that I noticed a change in Bashir's personality since that episode. Not just because of being genetically modified, but obviously now we know for sure that his passion went down a lot since then. As would anyones...
For my disagreement...I did not see it as creating another Data. Being an android and being genetically modified to be more intelligent are two totally different things. I did not see him as a Data-clone after the revelation.
Love his real-life relationship with Colm Meaney!
Once there was a grocery man whose name was simply Louie...until the day his store blew up and his produce went kablewie.
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Deviant Art
I write...I write...
I write because it seems this keyboard and these letters are the only ones that understand me.
I write because I need someone to talk to.
I write because no one else cares to listen.
I bleed my feelings onto these pages because I don't know what else to do.
I write.
I write because I need a release of emotion.
When I write tears often fall.
I write when I need to figure things out.
I write to give myself a place to vent without judgement.
Sure, you may judge anyways but, I'd never know.
Not like if I was standing in front of you or talking to you on the phone and things got akward or you suddenly had to go.
Not that you would take the time to listen if I was, no one has.
I have even been to therapists that get PAID to listen, it seems they can't be bothered either.
Mistaking my words, twisting them or not even hearing them at all.
So I write.
It's the only thing I have.
It's the only way to share my voice.
Then YOU can choose to read it or not.
For anyone out there feeling a
II...I2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
I push you away when I only want you closer.
I am difficult and need constant validation.
I constantly question your motives because...
I can't read people.
I have been hurt so many times before.
I have trust issues.
But,most of all...
I don't feel worthy.
I ruin relationships regularly.
There is no limit to what I can destroy with my own insecurities.
I am complex.
Not in a good way either.
I am difficult to be around.
I often times feel uncomfortable in my own skin.
Even just making eye contact makes me feel weird.
I am someone who...
I don't even like.
I don't even feel like I know sometimes.
I think is an asshole.
I think is unworthy.
I have no respect for.
Why would anyone else want to be around me if even I don't?
I don't even know what to do anymore.
I don't know if I want to BE anymore.
I am again alone.An old friend stopped by last night.I am again alone.2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
She needed to talk.
More for someone to listen.
It made me feel important and purposeful to be the one to prop someone else up.
It meant a lot to me that she trusted me enough to lean on my shoulder.
I loved having someone come visit.
Now she is back home.
Now I am again alone.
For all of the joy I had in being able to help her when she needed it....
I now somehow feel even emptier.
I had gotten used to being alone.
Every night and day me and the cat.
I guess I forgot what it was like to have someone who genuinely cared what I had to say around.
I had become almost comfortable in my self induced isolation.
But,she came and reminded me what it was like to be around decent people...
I think I really miss it.
Because tonight I again just feel so alone.
I Don't Write For YouI Don't Write For You2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
I don't sit and ponder how you're all going to take it
before I take the thought and emblazon it
I don't write for you but to you
so that you may take it in and look within
and right then perhaps create a world of your very own
and I will know that if it touched you
I have visited your home
and we have transversed over a shared moment of time
though yours was different than mine
but we are bound by a sense of a common thread
though not the same
we have all bled
we have exposed ourselves to people
and on our love they have tread
we have broken promises
and wished wicked things on others
we have regretted much but have always boldly carried on
we have all been demons and lovers
we have all run and hid under covers
we have done stellar things though no one cared to watch
and we were happy to know we did them anyway
our hearts have broken for someone we didn't meet who met defeat
we have held hands even in times of pestilence
Dangerous GameIt all started as a gameDangerous Game2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
A new experience in life
But this grew and there's no one to blame
Silly us, we didn't know the price
That this love would take
Defenseless, not wanting to break
Trying to bend without caving in
We had decisions to make
Which cause the chaos to begin
Leading us to the end
What happens if I'm forgotten?What happens if I'm forgottenWhat happens if I'm forgotten?2 years ago in Urban & Spoken Word More Like This
and people don't remember
They don't remember the adventures
that we shared.
They don't remember
all the things we discovered
What if I woke up
and it was all a dream.
A dream where people liked me
and I was no longer unknown
Would all my friends be a lie
and the idea
just a thought
Would they even know who I was
Would all the things I've done
just be another thought
Would I still be alone in my castle
with no one else in sight.
Even though I wish it to go away
what am I without it
IgnoranceIgnored...what a terrible word.Ignorance2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
It is the equvilant of shunned
Or abanded out in the cold.
It's never fun being ignored
Being misunderstood....
Feeling like everything I do is wrong...
It's the same old terrible song...
I try to to be kind
I try not to mind.......
All the pain you cause, but it's never enough...
Never enough for you to love me...
Never enough for you to care.....
I wonder why I stay at all.....
When I know if I was hanging from a cliff...you'd let me fall.
A love story.[Part 1]A love story.2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
She adjusts her hair in the mirror, and runs down the stairs––
the love of her life is waiting nervously, he runs his fingers through his hair.
She stops at the last step, and can't hide her smile anymore––
his eyes widen as he sees her; he looks down shyly to the floor.
She giggles to herself, and walks closer to where he stands––
He looks at her as he takes a few steps and extends both of his hands.
She takes them softly in her own, and the feeling is suddenly mutual.
They need each other from that moment on. It's inevitably crucial.
[Part 2]
10 years later they lay asleep, holding hands over the sheets––
He wakes up gently smiling. Grazes her feet as he watches her sleep.
He blows air on her face softly, and she lets out a few adorable sighs––
He lays on his side and caresses her face until she opens her eyes.
She whispers "hello" with a wink, as she begins to stretch out her arms––
he gives her a kiss
Don't let life pass you by.Everyone older than me, says time flies past you, you don't realise where the time goes.Don't let life pass you by.2 years ago in Philosophical More Like This
There's something very tragic about your life passing you by…I refuse to accept that's the way it goes, period.
It's up to us, up to living in the moment and not taking life for granted, it's about doing what you feel is right in that particular instant in your life, with no regrets.
Don't settle.
Don't just accept everything as it is, and think that it's as good as it's going to get, search… keep searching, you have life to find. It's better to die searching, than to go idly… fooling yourself into thinking you have found all you can.
Don't feel like the end is near, stop looking at death as a termination of who you are, there's actually no need to think about the end, ever… you're not there yet, so why waste the time your alive and well, thinking about a possibility, that you know nothing about?
When you look back on your life, on what happened yesterday, last week, las
So Far DownSometimes you wonderSo Far Down2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
where the sun went
when you are so far down.
The world's turned black.
All the colors drained away.
Nothing to see here.
No one to care about.
I find myself in this place again.
So far down the hole
that I can't see the sun anymore.
But you know what they say.
It's always darkest just before the dawn.
Or so they say.
LOVING SOMEONELOVING SOMEONE2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
L osing
O ur
V eritable
I ntelligence
N ever
G ently
S eemingly
O nerously
M ending
E very
Do you have a second?Can I tell you something?Do you have a second?2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
Just listen for a second.
I think that you're amazing.
Not just you,
But who you really are.
What I see underneath.
Sure you can be mean sometimes.
Can't everyone?
But I've seen you be sweet.
I'm not blind.
And your looks are perfect
No I'm not saying you are the most beautiful
Or the most handsome person in the world.
I'm saying you are perfect.
Your eyes can hold a gaze for hours.
Your smile can draw anyone away from the world.
Your laugh can brighten up anyone's day.
And your personality can make anyone fall in love.
I wish I could tell you that in person
But this poem must suffice
Because where you are is a mystery
But who you are, isn't.
Cliches are dead, I killed them.Don't "fall in love" tread carefully on it, it has thorns like you wouldn't believe.Cliches are dead, I killed them.2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
Don't "spell it out" for them. Make it hard to understand, the ones who are worth it decode it.
Don't "let time tell" Tell time what the fuck it is you want, and claim it before it has a chance.
"A diamond in the rough"–– This diamond may know it's worth, instead look for the rough kind of diamond. One only you could tame.
"All's well that ends well"–– Well No, it isn't. Some shit ends fucking terribly, but only after something is destroyed, can it be reformed into something worth the destruction. Also, some shit isn't worth it in the end, nonetheless a lesson.
"Time heals all wounds"–– Yeah, unless they're internal and relevant. All time does is replace them with something else, until you forget.
"We're not laughing at you, we're laughing with you"–– Nah, actually, we're laughing at you, while being with you. If you're not laughing, we're not laughing wi
Friends of the PastShe was the girl who wanted to drownFriends of the Past2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
She started way too young
Eleven years old and already covered in scares
That child was just the beginning
He was the boy who couldn't take in any more
Everything was always his fault
He met the girl, and tried to save her
But he was too late and took it out on himself
She was the one who was just done with it
She was waiting for her chance to go
She met the girl, and tried to save her
But she was gone before she could do any good
She was the one who took advantage of the poor girl
Used her till she was nothing, then moved on
The girl tried to help her, but was too late
Did she deserve what she got?
He was the one who cared too much
And that made him angry
Everyone got what they wanted, but not him
They were alone in their misery together
All these people came through the girls life
And one by one they left
Eventually all that was left was the first and the beginning
Now even that has gone
The WorstHate is an ugly emotion.The Worst2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
Violence begets violence.
Revenge solves nothing.
Murder wastes the gift of life.
Despair defeats hope.
These are worse,
But what is worst
Is complacency
In the face
Of evil.
Last GoodbyeI opened my heart;Last Goodbye2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
I put it in your hand.
I trusted you
to take care of it
just like I wanted
to take care of yours.
There it was, shivering
like a timid bird
willing to be tamed.
But your heart was closed
from the very start.
I gave you my all -
you gave me nothing:
closed doors and empty windows,
silence and no explanations.
Cold in the dark
I called in vain;
you only saw your own pain.
I gave myself to you -
you threw me away.
Why do you keep knocking
on my door again,
only to disappear
every time I open it?
Why do I keep running
after the shadow of a hope
that I no longer desire?
This was the last time
that I wrote to you,
the last time you didn't reply,
the last time you made me crawl for you.
This is the last good-bye.
Once RememberedIt is so beautiful to see two peopleOnce Remembered2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
who truly love each other.
I saw.
They were there, sipping from the same glass
Two different straws.
It made my stomach jump-
It is too charming to see two people
who love each other very much.
I saw.
They were holding hands,
both locked into each other, promising to never let go.
It made me smile-
It is so beautiful to remember
how two people loved each other too much.
I closed the photo album and fell asleep.
RestoredHeartless aggression, heartless oppressionRestored2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
I count thyself out when I see it rout
But the depth between me and the air is so short
So it ain't not my fault if I don't build a fort
But as far as now, this isn't my last resort
Don't say I didn't warn ya when I forged
Myself to put it with what I truly absorbed
Cause I never deplored what I explored
Therefore, I think I created a fjord on this floor
The best part about this is that I can't ignore
All of who I am so how can I abhor what I adore?
MatchesI light up the matchMatches2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
And stare for a moment
At that tiny flame
Before it touches my skin
A red tiny mark
Is all it leaves behind
Before I light up the next...
WastelandLife in deathWasteland2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
Death in life
Through the wasteland
That is this world
About who we are
What we are
Only to be
Finding MeI'm an epic adventureFinding Me2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
Fraught with peril
As the hands of the Doomsday
Clock prepare to clasp
In a midnight prayer
For those who go forth.
I'm a fathomless mystery,
Deep, with hidden currents
Impossible to unravel from
A dream within a dream-
Inception is a misconception
If you can't see the layers.
If you dare navigate
The wicked labyrinth
And cut it to the core,
You'll find a nest of thorns
Holding a single rose-
Yours forevermore.
Not BeautifulShe is prettyNot Beautiful2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
But not beautiful
She is skinny
But not Beautiful
She uses her body to get male attention
She isn't beautiful
Yet he looks at her with lust
Not knowing that i know
It angers me
It upsets me
Then i feel worthless
And ugly
Because i am not tall
Not pretty
And definitely not skinny
i hate my body
And i am not confident
I wish he would look at me
The way he looked at her
Dream of youI dream of youDream of you2 years ago in Haiku & Eastern More Like This
only to wake up
Coming BackYou're destined to come back,Coming Back2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
in one of those rainy nights
when the bells ring,
and people rejoice
you'll be there
and cry your pain over my soul.
You seek a lap to hide
from the truth in everybody's eyes
and warm up in my embrace
but my heart is colder than snow
and I poured poison in your glass
My heart promised me,
you'll come back
and sing our song,
call me love, and
promise yourself to me.
Repeat your words of longing
for my laughter, my smile
and I only fear my soul will give
before your lullaby.
I'm still waiting, you know,
for that rainy night when
you knock on my door,
and i will ask you
why you ran away?
who you left me for?
Go back, follow your greed
to your toys of diamond and gold.
This heart is long gone,
along with its shattered soul,
but be careful don't drink that wine
I still poured poison in your glass.
PiecesOnce againPieces2 years ago in Free Verse More Like This
As always
I walk through
This dirty street
In silence
For something
Or someone
Who can help
Help me find
The shattered pieces
Of what used to be
My heart
But all the pieces
I find
Belong to others
But I keep them
Not to myself
But to return them
To their rightful owners
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Kukla's Korner Hockey
The Favorites
by Paul on 03/25/07 at 12:15 PM ET
Comments (0)
from Erin Nicks at the Ottawa Sun,
When you're a media member, you're not supposed to show preference towards a specific franchise. It's not "professional." Whether you believe that isn't the issue. Everyone is prone to favouritism—there isn't a single person on Earth that cherishes all 30 NHL teams, and is simply a "fan of the sport."
However, these biases aren't reserved solely for the media. They extend far beyond, into the NHL itself. But how could the league have team preferences?
Two words—Television ratings.
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A new study suggests that the fitter you are, the less hydration matters. It is well known that dehydration detrimentally affects exercise
Registration for the 2009 Dean Karnazes Silicon Valley Virtual Race to open on July 22nd, 2009 October 12, 2009. San Jose, California –
Contrary to popular belief, the Chicago Marathon is not perfectly suited to fast running. But no marathon is, and Chicago comes closer than
The Brazilian megalopolis will be the first South American city to host the Games. Considered a co-favorite ahead of Friday's
The favorite to win Sunday's Rock 'n' Roll San Jose Half Marathon shares some of his training secrets and his hopes for
The new athlete engineered weight loss system Forze demonstrates how their product can be used to increase running performance. With the
A pair of seasoned ultrarunners suffer through a harrowing unplanned overnight adventure in the Southern California wilderness. Written by:
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At Ho Ting, we are proud to present to you of a variety of styles of Chinese cuisine originating from the Canton, Szechuan, Beijing and Hong Kong regions. Each dish is prepared with creativity and artistic culinary skills that Chef Lau has developed in his 20 years of experience in Chinese cuisine. He left Rainbow Chinese Restaurant after a three-year tenure as head chef to start Ho Ting and was previously chef at David Fong's in Bloomington.
In order to provide our customers with the best dining experience, we focus on using the finest ingredients in our dishes and providing friendly customer service. Come and take a look at our menu.
Special requests can be made upon ordering. Please let your server know if you have any questions or concerns regarding items on our menu.
Monday - Friday 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM, We offer a lunch buffet with a menu that changes daily. Lunch Buffet is $8.99 per person and includes your choice of soft drink or hot-tea. $5.25 for Children under 9 years of age. Dine-in and takeout are welcomed
We updated our takeout menu, please try out our new recipes
Lunch: within 1.5 miles (Min. $15.00, $2.00 delivery fee)
Dinner: within 3 miles (Min. $25.00, $3.00 delivery fee)


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But even in such instances, linkages remain between domestic and national security agendas. Without such distinctions, however, it is easy to argue that every domestic issue is also a national security issue. The policy and political turmoil emerging from such a concept will surely diffuse and denigrate national security policy to a meaningless exercise.
In this period of transition, it is clear that efforts must be undertaken by the military and national security establishment as well as by political leaders to develop and sustain a degree of awareness and sensitivity of the American people to the continuing dangers in the external world, to the reality that the end of the Cold War did not necessarily bring peace. Indeed, the "fog of peace" seems to have made it more difficult to design a strategic vision that clarifies U.S. national interests in the new world order. And in such circumstances it is important that the notion of national security not be so separated from domestic concerns that it becomes isolated along with the military instrument. Without such efforts, national will, political resolve, and staying power may be lacking in meeting serious threats that may emerge in the future. Without such efforts, sometime in the future the United States may be faced with a serious security threat that triggers a precipitous response and an open-ended commitment that leads to, yes, another Vietnam.


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Pontins - Southport Holiday Park2
Pontins Southport Holiday Centre, Shore Road, Southport, PR8 2PZ
Price FromView Rooms
"After reading the most horrendous reviews and booking on a whim, I was terribly apprehensive about staying at this complex. On arrival, the..."
"The room was fairly clean with all the essentials so we were satisfied with that, the staff were also pretty friendly and helpful so again h..."
"Booked it Saturday 1:00 pm arrived 4:00 pm room ready upgrade to club chalet. Spotless clean. Went half board food really good. Entertainmen..."
"Absolutely fine for a fun family getaway. Accommodation was a little shabby and the mattresses have seen better days, but there was everythi..."
About the hotel
Southport is one of our great traditional seaside resorts with miles of open stunning sand dunes and award winning beaches. A scene of tranquil parks and gardens by day that transform into a vibrant nightspot when the sun goes down.
Room Availability
Showing Wednesday 14 October 2015 to Thursday 15 October 2015Change Search
Facilities Show/hide
- Family friendly
- Cots available , Children's Facilities - Indoor , Children's Facilities - Outdoor
- Parking
- Car parking available onsite
- Dining
- Restaurant
- Leisure
- Indoor Pool , Tennis Courts , Table Tennis , Snooker/Billiards
- In room entertainment
- In room facilities
- Tea/Coffee making facilities in each room
Useful Info Show/hide
- From 16:00 hours
- Until 10:00 hours
- 28/02/2011 to 31/12/2020 - A levy charge of £2 is applicable to credit card payments and 50p per debit card transaction. PLEASE NOTE: PONTINS DO NOT ACCEPT VISA ELECTRON PAYMENTS. The price shown is based on the occupancy and dates you have searched for. Prices and availability are subject to change based on the arrival date, number of nights and occupancy searched for. All prices are inclusive of all local taxes.
- Pets are not allowed
Customer Reviews
Our reviews are from genuine LateRooms.com customers. We verify that the customer has stayed before leaving a review.
32% would recommend it to a friend
Customer service
Food quality
Room quality
Never go for a 1 night stay
We arrived the Pontins resort was packed with people having breakfast.
Our checkin was 4pm. We spent the day there and on the beach. At 4pm ques began to form for checkin this was the beginning. By 7.30pm we still had no room after 4 hours of waiting around. Eventually we were given a key to a room 210. We went to the room only to find people were in our room playing loud music and we could smell drugs being smoked. We went back and reported this to reception. At 8.30pm we were given another room which was by then a total waste of a day out. Don't bother asking for compensation as they just ignore you Awful experience. Never Again.
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Apartment had loose door handled,dirty toilet and a filthy toilet brush.
Door did not lock on unlock straight away u had to struggle with it. Not a nice place to stay at all.
Read More Less


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KyleJohnson Photographer
Raton RoseModel Female San Francisco, California, US
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About Me
I have been modeling on and off for the past nine years. I enjoy working with creative and fun minded people.
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Ek Tha Tiger Review
Rating: 3/5 stars (Three stars)
Star Cast: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Ranvir Shorey and Girish Karnad.
What's Good: The cinematography; some twists in the film; the music.
What's Bad: The plot seems stretched; unexplained loops.
Loo Break: Not really.
Watch or Not: Watch Ek Tha Tiger for Salman Khan at the top of his game and some exciting action scenes.
India is in safe hands with RAW spies like Tiger (Salman Khan) who chase, beat and gun down enemies of the state no matter which foreign country they are in. Forever on the move, Tiger's latest assignment is to observe the movements of a certain Trinity College scientist in the UK. Accustomed to using his fists for getting information, our desi 007 finds it a bit difficult to get close to this aloof scientist.
But there's the professor's beautiful housekeeper Zoya (Katrina Kaif) who can help Tiger. In the guise of a writer, Tiger prances around with Zoya and ends up falling for her; just as his colleague Gopi (Ranvir Shorey) had warned him not to.
So what could be the twist in this story? Considering that it's a YRF product, the rest of the movie has enough romance, action and chase sequences to look forward to. Can Zoya and Tiger make it? Watch the movie for the ultimate twist in the tale.
Ek Tha Tiger Review: Script Analysis
Aditya Chopra's story smartly mixes a spy thriller with a love story which is sort of exciting. Kabir Khan and Neelesh Misra's script has its share of flaws. The story of the scientist in the first half shows Tiger quite inept as a spy and isn't even given a proper conclusion. Also, why RAW decides to help their rogue agent Tiger towards the end is up to the viewers to decide. The movie also seems a bit long with the duo on the run most of the time. Dialogues are good and keep a good dose of humour.
Also, you heave a sigh of relief to see a movie that talks about Pakistan and India and doesn't indulge in jingoism or have a long patriotic tirade about Mera Desh.
Ek Tha Tiger Review: Star Performances
Salman Khan is good as Tiger except that his expressions can seem a bit blank at times. Katrina Kaif is lovely as Zoya and smoothly carries off her bubbly and emotional scenes. Though Ranvir Shorey doesn't have much screen time as Tiger's comrade Gopi, he is wonderful in his role. Girish Karnad performs well as Tiger's boss, Shenoy.
Ek Tha Tiger Review: Direction, Music & Technical Aspects
Kabir Khan's direction is well done though he does make Salman Khan's Tiger more superhero than spy. Ek Tha Tiger might seem a bit long in between, but once the action starts, it gets on track. Julius Packiam's background score is alright. Sohail Sen and Sajid-Wajid's songs are good. Cinematography by Aseem Mishra is very nice. Rameshwar Bhagat's editing is good. Visual effects are nice but they seem choppy in some sequences.
Ek Tha Tiger Review: The Last Word
For those asking, yes, Salman Khan does take off his shirt. Salman fans won't be disappointed by Ek Tha Tiger. For others, it's a fun watch even though it's a bit long.
Ek Tha Tiger Trailer
Ek Tha Tiger releases on 15th August 2012.
Check out our Ek Tha Tiger Contest to win exciting gift hampers.
Comment via Facebook
162 Comments
the real tiger
Its too good movie, salman khan kaitrina kaif iz rock, salman khan iz real tiger khan nd dabanagg khan.
wow ky super kool hero hai m salman khan ka bhut bada fan hu……
bollywood king salman khan
ek tha tiger salman khan moive best in the world block buster
Bbecause of the prize raising channi express make so much money.salman Mental will break all the record which is or will creating this year.
salmankhan is best ek tha tigar god fim
Express chennai is so boring mvi its only time pass and only entertainment and salman is ready to realese the mental movie and he is also block blaster boxofice they wil 100 crore in 2 days
Salman khan is the best…. Ypu cannot macth anyone wid salman khan… From starting onwards he have a fame and sucess.. Dats y on this age also he is giving the biggest blockbluster film….
I am the biggest fan of Salman khan. Salman khan is the most successfull ,handsome and laborious actor in the world.
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First, They Came For The Hedge Fund Managers
And I did not say anything…
S&P Legal Outlook Upgraded To Positive
After writing a big ole check.
High-Frequency Monitoring: A Short-Sighted Behavior
The more frequently you monitor your portfolio, the more likely you are to observe a loss.
This is likely to cause short-sighted decisions and could hurt your investment performance.
If you are checking your portfolio more than once per quarter, you're doing it too much.
Click to read more.
Dan Egan, Betterment Director of Behavioral Finance and Investing
Paul Singer Finds Someone Else To Be Annoyed With
So CalPERS thinks that hedge funds are too opaque, too complex, too expensive and just […]
If CalPERS Is Doing It, It Has To Be Good
The California Public Employees' Retirement System insists that it's not firing all of its hedge […]
Things Still Awkward Between CalPERS, Hedge Funds
Hedge funds might be feeling pretty down in the dumps about CalPERS' decision to break […]
CalPERS Not Interested In Carl Icahn's Dinner Plans
The giant pension fund's corporate governance honcho, Anne Simpson doesn't like Carl Icahn's jerk-off plans. […]
CalPERS, Thinking Outside Of The Box Again
The nation's largest public-pension fund turned an investment conference into a career fair, asking attending […]
Chicago Hedge Fund Manager Knew He Had To Make Up Money To Make Money
SEC enforcement orders against low-grade investment hucksters are among my favorite literary genres, full of […]
What is CalPERS's job? There's actually an answer: it's to "Provide responsible and efficient stewardship […]
Investment banking continues to be a laborious, tedious practice. Banks are implementing ways to boost […]
Former CalPERS CEO Accused Of Fraud, Definitely Innocent Of Stealing Office Supplies
I'm just some guy, but two entities of which I have become aware in my […]


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Property to let in Beechmont Gardens, Southend-on-Sea SS2 - 1 bedroom
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Mayfield Avenue, Southend On Sea, Essex SS2Room to rent
Available from Mid October is this double room, the let includes all bills and the room is located within in a semi detached house with a live in landlord, the tenant would have use of, communal kitchen and dining area the property is conveniently ... More details
Note: Distances are straight line measurements
- Prittlewell (0.7 miles)
- Southend Airport (0.9 miles)
Marketed by 1st Call Sales & Lettings, SS1. Call 01702 820032


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Tefal Non-stick 38 cm paella pan
Item No.3310019440
Item No.3310019440
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This paella pan from Tefal's Ideal range is dishwasher safe for your convenience.
Item description
This is a non-stick paella pan from Tefal. Pan benefits from interior PTFE Resist Plus technology, non-stick exterior and easy to clean design.
UK Home Delivery Free (UK orders over £30) or £3.49
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Bilderberg Parkhotel
No prices found through our partners. Please contact the business directly or check some of our recommended alternatives.
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- Wireless internet connection in public areas
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Rotterdam/ Kinderdyk
Today we had a lovely day in Rotterdam, not as nice a city as Amsterdam but a great day. Weather wise it is cold and rainy today, in Rotterdam we saw apartments that are like cubes on different angles, got to have a look inside but that made my head go strange...lol...Next up we went to Kinderdyk this is ...
And the cruise begins . . .
... sprinkles and chocolate shavings designed to be sprinkled on your bread or toast. Karl tried some of the chocolate shavings and said it made his roll taste like a chocolate doughnut!
We had reserved the 9:15 shuttle to the airport, so we gathered all of our luggage and headed out. In about 10 minutes we were at the airport. We found the Holland America representatives in the arrivals hall and they led us to a waiting area. About ...
Travel highlights and low lights
Highlights of the trip Flying business class with Finnair Brugge and Ghent in Belgium. Seeing Elizabeth in Whitstable, and visiting the White Cliffs of Dover Nev seeing a Clive and Miriam in Cornwall and Claire in Bath Caring SERVAS hosts in Belgium, Scotland and Stockholm. The Cairngorms, Urquhart Castle, Arisaig, the Isle of Skye, Glen Coe in Scotland Bergen, the Flam Railway and sailing the Songenfjoid. Nev meeting Lesley's ...
RObike 2000 '14
... best, is good enough, otherwise I will become very sulky and aggitated.
I already made my entire planning schedule in Excel so I only have to come home after biking, fill in the amount of km I've biked and then crash onto my bed. But a lot more needs to be planned. Like installing the km-counter on my bike, having it checked out at the bike-repair etc.
First step in Europe!
After a LONG day and a half of traveling, the worst of the flights is finally over! I just landed in Amsterdam and am waiting for my flight to Prague! My first flight was to Minneapolis, it was really short and easy, and when I landed and got to my connecting gate, there conveniently was a bar that was right next to where I lined up! I asked the bartender if she could give me a to go mug for my beer (jokingly) and she actually did! As I ...


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MORKIE PUPPIES- $400-$500 each. Call 919-778-4428, GoldsboroMore info Email a friend
I am taking deposits on my miniature schnauzer puppies.I have 2 male salt and pepper puppies and 2 black and white females. All deposits are non refundable unless something happens to the puppy while it is still in my care. They will be ready to go when...More info Email a friend
DOBERMANS! AKC, Beautiful, home raised, Puppies & Adults! Ears & tails done, shots & wormed. Call 919-819-0554More info Email a friend
DOG TRAINING: Obedience, prob. solving. All ages! Master Trainer! 919-819-0554More info Email a friend
SHIH TZU PUPS, 7 wks old, very smart, Ready! $400. 910-988-0270 | 910-309-6701.More info Email a friend
GERMAN SHEPHERD PUPS AKC, Beautiful, white $350 ea. no checks, 919-528-0152.More info Email a friend
YORKIE PUPS, registered, shots, warranty, very small! Teacups. 336-434-5654More info Email a friend
YORKIEPOO PUPs Teacup/Toy, M/F, blk/ wht, choc/ wht, shots $550/750. 910-814-6787More info Email a friend
ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL PUPPIES, Champion bloodlines, quality breed, liver & white, M/F. 919-223-0512More info Email a friend
LAB PUPPIES AKC, Choco, Yellow, all shots, vet chk'd. 919-738-9828 / 252-342-9651.More info Email a friend


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Listen Local First presents, a five-piece band with humble roots in Washington, D.C. The newly formed group has been active since 2014 and performs in the folk-street music style.
The D.C. band is the creative union of artists Alex Braden (Young Rapids, Bella Russia), Drew Hagelin (Cigarette), Margot MacDonald, Sam Raymond (Rival Skies), Sarah Schaffer (Lies About), and Fiona Kohrman. A finalist in NPR's Tiny Desk Contest, the group made its live debut by playing three consecutive sold out performances in February 2015. Presented in collaboration with Listen Local First D.C.
The DC-based, Baltimore-bred electro/acoustic composer and songwriter uniquely combines thoughtful and introspective lyrics with acoustic and electronic arrangements. Presented in collaboration with Listen Local First DC.
The up-and-coming bluegrass band from UVA was a favorite at this year's Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival. Presented by Listen Local First DC.
The funk/Afro-beat ensemble plays music that is gritty, soulful, and invigorating. Presented with Listen Local First DC.
Listen Local First D.C. and The 9 Songwriter Showcase offer a show with nine of DMV's most talented songwriters and musicians, collaborating to create a show full of seasonal cheer for the entire family.
The D.C. group combines a wide variety of folk instrumentation with electric and digital elements to create a unique sound brimming with layered melodies and contagious energy.
This D.C. band blends Ethiopian music and jazz to create a unique sound called EthioJazz.
The popular D.C. psychedelic pop rock band featuring Alex Tebeleff, Eduardo Rivera, and Danny Bentley performs.
Jonny Grave and Gordon Daniels of Lucky Dub, Candice Mills of Future, and Mike Ounallah and Kristen Long of Black Masala celebrate the Fourth of July.
Musicians from the DC area perform.
The Silver Spring, MD–based trio, which consists of twin brothers Max and Spencer Ernst and lead singer Chelsea Lee, blends deep roots grooves and harmony with meditative and heavily acoustic pop.
A D.C. favorite, the 6-piece, uplifting and conscious reggae band started by Mustafa Akbar and Rex Riddem has developed its own brand of "Dancehall Funk" that moves bodies, hearts, and minds.
An evening of songs from nine different local musicians.
This D.C.-based group fuses elements of southern rock, pop, and country music for a unique sound.
The group takes funk, jazz, soul, and rock to create a genre-bending sound called "soul garage."
Jay Byrd and Lara Supan blend robust harmonies with solid songwriting and musicianship to create original music that fuses authentic Americana and rock 'n' roll.
The D.C.-based band performs afro-pop using Togolese rhythms with American-influenced styles.
The DC-based soul rock trio effortlessly fuses classic blues and folk styles with more modern colors and tones.
The DC–based experimental rock band combines evocative music, unique vocals, and narrative film.
The D.C. guitarist and cellist perform their original music that draws on everything from Hindustani ragas and surf rock to Appalachian laments and post-bop harmonies.
Listen Local First presents the D.C.-based and District-loving bluegrass band in a concert featuring a mix of traditional and original music with rich, tight vocal harmony.
Listen Local First DC presents this garage-rock/psychedelia/ blues/surf/punk-laced band.
The D.C.-based group performs a colorful mix of sounds that draws on melodies of Eastern European brass bands, New Orleans jazz, Latin grooves, ambient/experimental indie rock riffs, and a hint of Appalachian twang.
Ten holiday tracks, one hour, nine DC artists: Don Kim, Justin Trawick, Gordon Daniels, Sam McCormally, Wytold, Bobbie Allen, Madia, Tiffany Thompson, Alex Vans.


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A motion to issue an arrest warrant for Newton County Chairman Keith Ellis was dismissed by Chief Magistrate Court Judge Henry Baker Tuesday morning.
Crime Stoppers Atlanta is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in a case of aggravated ...
There were no injuries reported after a Newton County School System bus was involved in a head-on collision Monday.
The Covington branch of the Newton County Library System is closed after the HVAC unit broke down Friday.
There's no place like home.
UPDATE: COVINGTON - William Dontrel Winston has been arrested for the murder of 19-year-old Caylen Gooch.
This week there were two threats called in to two Newton County Schools. A week previous, there was another.
It is hot outside.
The awards keep coming for Middle Ridge Elementary School media specialist Tammy Privette. Last spring, she was named Newton County School System's 2015 Media ...
The Newton County School Board (BOE) has agreed to engage in financial negotiations with the Newton County Board of Commissioners (BOC) that could eventually lead ...
Newton County Commissioner John Douglas has returned to work at Georgia Perimeter College after he was placed on paid administrative leave following Douglas' admission that ...
Porterdale Elementary School was cleared after receiving a telephoned threat concerning the safety of the school Friday morning.
The Rockdale-Newton League of Women Voters will host a redistricting forum at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Rockdale Career Academy, 1064 Culpepper Drive S.W. in Conyers.
ABBOTTABAD, Pakistan - Four helicopters swooped in early Monday and killed Osama bin Laden in a fiery American raid on his fortress-like compound in a Pakistani town that is home to three army regiments.
Louly Hay-Kapp loves to work out and she's long been dedicated to helping families in need.
You can whip up flavorful, frugal fare for your family with a little creativity and not a lot of know-how. One of my family's monthly staples is something we call "Ziti con Salsa Aurora." That fancy moniker is a completely made up name for a simple, yet delicious dish we first enjoyed in Florence. The cost for this quick and easy meal that serves four adults (or my family of two adults and three Littles) is around $6. Add some homemade bread and a salad and you have an Italian feast without breaking the bank!
Since 1974 Newton County has rallied around its Special Olympians, and it's time once more to do just that today.
Hiring is on the rise in Newton County, and local staffing companies say they're optimistic that trend could continue for the rest of 2011.
Beaver Manufacturing celebrated its 40th anniversary in business with a banquet Saturday night at DeKalb Technical College in Covington.
Touting their horns: The results are in for the Hornyhead Fish Head Festival, which was held Saturday in Newborn. (L-r) Youth Winner: Eli Galloway - 8 inches long with 8 horns. Adult Winner: Tom Krieger - 6 inches long with 11 horns. Children's Winner: Malcom Whitaker - 7 1/8 inches long with 9 horns. The festival also included a parade, a flea market and other arts and crafts booths. The fish were fried, and according to residents, taste like trout.
Best Campsite - Kerbow's Cruizers
ATLANTA, Ga. - President Barack Obama issued a federal disaster declaration for parts of Georgia that were ravaged by this week's violent storms, making federal funding available to help people recover in seven counties.
Lawn Care
The much discussed gas tax hike in Georgia will raise prices at Newton County's pumps by 5 cents when it takes effect Sunday.
Update: Cleanup efforts following the tornado that ripped through Newborn are going well thanks to efforts from numerous county and state agencies, and Saturday's Horneyhead Fish Head Festival is still on.
The Newton County Board of Commissioners will not hold its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday.
ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves placed pitching coach Roger McDowell on administrative leave Friday while they investigate allegations that he made homophobic comments and crude gestures toward fans before a game in San Francisco last weekend.
McDowell also is accused of using a baseball bat to threaten a fan who objected to his actions.
Powered By


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Interactive Seating Charts
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Brick Breeden Fieldhouse1 Bobcat Circle
Bozeman, MT 59717
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Grilled Chicken Tostadas with Sweet-&-Sour Vegetables
From EatingWell: May/June 2010
These grilled chicken tostadas are topped with rich mole sauce and sweet-and-sour summer vegetables and use store-bought tostada shells for convenience. If you want to make this a vegetarian dish, leave out the grilled chicken.
Makes: 6 servings, 2 tostadas each
Active Time:
Total Time:
Nutrition Profile
Diabetes appropriate | Healthy weight | Heart healthy | High fiber | High potassium | Low calorie | Low cholesterol | Low saturated fat |View Our Nutrition Guidelines »
Adobo-Rubbed Chicken
- 4 teaspoons chili powder, preferably made with New Mexico or ancho chiles (see Note)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 3 8-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed
Mole Sauce
- 3 dried ancho or New Mexico chiles (see Note)
- 2 cups boiling water
- 3 medium tomatoes, quartered and seeded
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Pinch of ground cloves
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
Sweet-&-Sour Vegetables
- 2 cups diced carrot
- 1 cup diced summer squash
- 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 12 tostada shells (see Tip)
- To prepare adobo rub and chicken: Combine chili powder, lime juice, oil, cumin, onion powder, garlic power, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Rub 2 tablespoons of adobo rub generously all over chicken breasts (the remaining rub can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days). Let marinate for 30 minutes or wrap in plastic and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
- To prepare mole sauce: Tear chiles into pieces; discard stems and seeds. Place in a bowl, add boiling water and soak until the chiles are soft, about 30 minutes. Pour the chiles and soaking liquid into a blender. Add tomatoes, onion, garlic, vinegar, flour, sugar, cumin, pepper, cayenne to taste and cloves; blend until smooth. Strain the sauce through a sieve to filter out any remaining seeds and skins, pressing out as much liquid as possible from the solids. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sauce and cook, stirring frequently, until it thickens and reduces to about 2 cups, 10 to 20 minutes. Season with 3/4 teaspoon salt. Set aside.
- To prepare sweet-&-sour vegetables: Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add carrots and cook for 7 minutes. Add squash, vinegar, oregano, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Continue cooking until the vegetables are just tender, 2 to 3 minutes more. Drain, transfer to a bowl and season with more pepper to taste. Set aside to cool.
- About 20 minutes before you're ready to grill the chicken, preheat grill to medium.
- Oil the grill rack (see Tip). Grill the chicken until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165°F, 6 to 8 minutes per side. Transfer to a clean cutting board, let rest for 5 minutes and slice into 1/2-inch strips.
- To assemble tostadas: Place 2 tostada shells on each plate. Drizzle about 2 tablespoons of the mole sauce over each tostada, then top each with about 2 1/2 tablespoons of the vegetables. Divide the chicken among the tostadas and drizzle with more mole sauce. Serve with taco garnishes as desired.
Tips & Notes
- Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate the mole sauce (Step 2) for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months. Cover and refrigerate the vegetables (Step 3) for up to 1 day.
- Note: Mildly spicy dried chiles, such as ancho or New Mexico, add moderate heat and rich flavor to Mexican sauces like mole. Chili powder made from these chiles has more flavor than American-style blends. Look for whole dried chiles in the produce section of large supermarkets and New Mexico or ancho chili powder in the specialty-spice section of large supermarkets or online at penzeys.com.
- Kitchen Tips: To make your own tostadas: Heat about 1/2 inch canola oil or peanut oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add a corn tortilla and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and cook until crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Repeat until all tortillas are cooked, reducing heat, if necessary, to prevent the oil from smoking or splattering.
- To oil a grill rack, oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs and rub it over the rack. (Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.)
Per serving: 355 calories; 15 g fat (3 g sat, 5 g mono); 63 mg cholesterol; 31 g carbohydrates; 2 g added sugars; 27 g protein; 6 g fiber; 719 mg sodium; 877 mg potassium.
Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (195% daily value), Vitamin C (32% dv), Potassium (25% dv), Magnesium (18% dv), Iron (16% dv)
Carbohydrate Servings: 1 1/2
Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 3 lean meat, 3 fat
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Recipe Categories
- Health & Diet Considerations
- Healthy weight
- High fiber
- High potassium
- Diabetes appropriate
- Low calorie
- Low cholesterol
- Low saturated fat
- Heart healthy
- Ease of Preparation
- Moderate
- Total Time
- More than 1 hour
- Servings
- 6
- Main Ingredient
- Chicken
- Style/Theme
- Birthday
- Entertaining, casual
- Make ahead instructions
- Preparation/ Technique
- Braise/Stew
- Grill/BBQ
- Marinate/Rub
- Saute
- Type of Dish
- Main dish, combination meal
- Main dish, poultry
- Meal/Course
- Dinner
- Ethnic/Regional
- Mexican
- Publication
- May/June 2010